One was perhaps the greatest light heavyweight of all-time, a feared striker who ruled the 205-pound weight class with an iron right hand and in doing so became mixed martial arts’ first crossover superstar. The other was his close friend, a visionary who helped create a brand that is now synonymous with the sport, but who did it not with a ruthless business sense, but with an infectious enthusiasm and an attitude that could light up a room. On Friday, July 10th, the UFC Hall of Fame inducts its two newest members, former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell and TapouT co-founder Charles “Mask” Lewis.

“I appreciate this gesture and I’m glad that people appreciate what I do and that they think that I deserve this, but I’m just one of the guys that fight out there,” said Liddell, who admitted that this crowning moment of his storied career does come with some bittersweet feelings due to the fact that he won’t be able to share it with his longtime friend Lewis, who was tragically killed in an automobile accident in March. “It’s gonna be a little rough being that it’s Charles and me, but for us to go in together, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

It’s good to see the UFC add some new faces to their ultra-exclusive legends club. Maybe they can start inducting members on a more regular schedule from now on; Matt Hughes and Helio Gracie certainly deserve a nod. Speaking of the Iceman, he’s still not officially retired, but he’s vowed to take a break from competition until next April at the earliest. As he told SI.com, "Hopefully my brain can heal over time." We’re not sure it works that way, but we wish Chuck the best.

Cagepotato Comments

Showing 1-25 of comments

Yes sheps.. Sherdog says on Lawlers record that he couldn't defend leg kicks from spratt and had to give up. I never saw that fight or anything, sherdog just told me that. I just look at every comment on cagepotato and then research sherdog and wikipedia so that I can sound smart. You really found me out..

Or maybe I know what I'm talking about, but occassionally double check my facts just to make sure I don't sound like as much of a fucking dumbass as you always do. Like when you said that Shane Carwin would just lay on someone for 15 minutes.. I know that Shane doesn't lay n pray and finishes all his fights but I went on sherdog to find out the exact number.. 11 first round finishes.. so that I could be entirely correct and accurate when proving to you that you are fucking retarded.

They got hype because of a few devistating knock outs. Good fighters sure, but they are not the kind of guys you get into the hall of fame for beating.

Fucking dumbass

Cage Crapato- July 7, 2009 at 11:35 pm

Mask shouldn't be in the UFC hall of fame, that's just stupid.

Really, the guy was a complete nut.

Wearing make-up, acting stupid and racing in a sportscar.

Yeeeah, complete legend...

Sheps- July 7, 2009 at 9:12 pm

Lmao you constantly talk with hindsight Armfarmer, the matter of the fact is that both all the men mentioned were at the top of their division.

Dude you obviously wasn't watching MMA back then because if you were you'd know Baroni and Lawler were some of the biggest names back then, instead you just check sherdog records to make it look like you actually know what your talking about.

Hell I know nothing about football but I can look at wikipedia and quote what it says on paper when in reality things were completely different. I don't think I'm talking down to you cause I think you know less about MMA, I'm talking down to your because your MMA history knowledge ends at sherdog.com

TheSlothman- July 7, 2009 at 11:19 am

Without Helio , there is no MMA as we currently know it. Every sport inducts contributers that shape the sport in a major way, so if a T Shirt guy is 1 of the first 10 people in, Helio shoulda been inducted first overall. why not have a CONTRIBUTERS wing , and stick em all in there, with Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris,Keith Hackney(for his development of the best game plan EVER),the japanese Yakuza, the guy that cleans the mats at CHUTE BOXE, etc, etc, etc....

philibuster- July 7, 2009 at 11:13 am

They should have put in Don Frye or Sakuraba instead of "Mask", they were both UFC tournament champions and both had amazing mma careers. All Mask did was make a t-shirt company at the right time mma in America was taking off.

Fiction- July 7, 2009 at 10:42 am

@Fight Fan,

Have you actually ever been to another sport's hall of fame?

Judging from your statement, ill guess.... no.

Non players get in when their contributions merit it, if you look at the baseball / basketball HOF's, which are some of the most storied HOF's with rich history behind them and the people contributed, there are NUMEROUS non players inducted.

MMA/ UFC's history is still young, but honoring someone like Mask with an induction is a good start. If MMA is around in 50 years with a storied enough and big enough HOF, maybe they can change it like baseball has an offer something similar to the Ford C Frick award for contributions to the game.

ArmFarmer- July 7, 2009 at 10:35 am

I think we need to figure out what the guidelines are for getting into the hall of fame before we can really say who should and who shouldn't be in. To me, hall of fame means the best of the best. The guys that stood out based on their record, quality of opponents, titles held, title runs ect. If the hall of fame is meant to recognize the best of the best, as well as the most influential people/pioneers/fan favorites ect. then it's a whole different ball game. Then you have to start thinking about the masks/helios/tanners/griffins ect.

@cz I have a job, the only time I post on here is at work inbetween getting shit done. I've posted so many times in this one because I think it's an interesting topic. To be honest I think overposting in this article with relevant points is better than one post in an article about ring girls or playmates. At least I'm talking about mma and not whether I'd bang a horseface or jailbait lol

Clyde- July 7, 2009 at 10:18 am

I think that as long as they're letting Mask in, then they'd be hard pushed not to let in anyone who's ever held a belt once they've retired/died. If the hall of fame has a sub section for non fighters then I think it's not really what a hall of fame should be.

Big Nog hasn't done that much in the UFC and I think a lot of people would agree that he should be in there when he's done. Pat Milletitch? Sakuraba (I know he didn't win a title but he did figt a couple of times in the UFC)? Forrest Griffin may never have successfully defended his title, but if he doesn't win it again, do you think many people have done more for the UFC? Is it about what you've done for the UFC or what you've done for the sport?

If they're letting in people who've never fought in the UFC, then how about Fedor? Shit, Kimbo may have done more for MMA than Tanner did if you're bringing up the subject. BTW, I'm not suggesting Kimbo go in there and Tanner doesn't, I'm just saying he's more famous.

UFC fan- July 7, 2009 at 9:30 am

fuck a bunch of stupid dead people.
Tanner never woulda made it, but because hes dead someone wants him in, NOW this fucking car wrecking freak gets in, and all he did was sell T-shirts and act like a dumbass, and sponsor real fighters? fuck that.
Chuck earned it, but its to soon.
Tito earned it, but he pissed off the boss, so in his place we put a dead dickhead, great choice!

and then you got idiots like meh-kell, you just hate Dana, that makes a hall of famer as well right? since all they are doing is putting loser nobodys in you must be a shoe in.
fucking morons on here.

Serpente- July 7, 2009 at 9:26 am

Ok honestly this is the fact and my opinion on the whole Evan Tanner/Mask "do they deserve to get in HOF clusterfuck".

1st Evan Tanner, I'm not going to play the whole "oh I liked Evan Tanner don't get me wrong bullshit" I liked the guys heart and his fights , but honestly he has the most fights in UFC doesn't mean shit honestly Tank Abbott had more fights than him and alot of people will agree with me that he doesn't deserve to be there with the HOF which is meant for champions or dominant fighters, the best of the best.

Evan was a good fighter to watch but not HOF worthy but people feel sorry, or obliged to over rate the dead so its just human nature.

And about Mask I'm not saying he deserves it more than Tanner or what not but, he did start one of the most famous sponsors and helped a shitload of fighters in the UFC money wise. Made Tapout synonymous with UFC and MMA and helped MMA grow, so you can see how they will give him the HOF.

CZ- July 7, 2009 at 9:23 am

I gptta agree with armfarmer on this one (although being responsible for about 25% of posts on a particular thread should lead him to go job farming instead) you cant just base his entrance into the HOF on the fact that he passed. There would be zero thought given to inducting him if he were around right now, and that isnt to disrespect him, but he didnt really stand out. For the record I also disagree with them putting Chuck into the hall of fame, the same way I didnt like it when they put mark coleman in KNOWING he was taking another fight.

ArmFarmer- July 7, 2009 at 8:43 am

@sheps

Yeah Lawler was unstoppable against that top notch fighter Pete Spratt wasn't he. So awesome he was incapable of defending leg kicks and had to quit. And he really showed he was made of stone when he got dropped by a weak jab or straight or whatever from Diaz, who then got beat by some not so top notch fighters himself. These fights happened before he fought Tanner, he was 1-2 his last 3 fights before facing tanner making it 1-3 in his last 4 fights after losing to Tanner. Great point, maybe you should utilize that edit button?

ArmFarmer- July 7, 2009 at 8:42 am

Yeah just looked up Baronis record.. he was really stellar too.. really someone you'd consider an unstoppable force in the ufc *rolls eyes*

I mean his 13-11 record speaks for itself right? Fucking unbeatable man.. that 4 fight losing streak he was on, Tanner being the middle 2, that's top of the food chain material right there.

Bit of advice.. you shouldn't talk down to someone like they have inferior mma knowledge right after you claim Baroni and Elvis Sinisoc were "the best in the game".

Sheps- July 7, 2009 at 8:30 am

@ Arm Farmer

You obviously wasn't watching the UFC during the time Tanner was in it cause Lawler and Baroni were some of the most destructive fighters in the entire organisation. The fact that Tanner beat baroni twice, the man that turned Dave Menne into a ragdoll, says it all.

Tanner was a legend and should be inducted into the HOF for his blog alone.

The edit button is awesome huh Afarmer.

manutdfan- July 7, 2009 at 8:24 am

Anyone who doesn't see why Helio Gracie shouldn't be in the HOF is VERY shortsighted. It was his work both in Brasil and the US that brought the UFC to fruition. Gracie Jiu Jitsu---->UFC. No Helio, no UFC/MMA/Cagepotato/etc.

ArmFarmer- July 7, 2009 at 8:23 am

I nominate the Bens for the hall of fame for being mma's biggest smartasses. And for pissing off Shane Carwin and sicking hal on them to make him eat his words.

razzle469- July 7, 2009 at 8:22 am

Mask may be a nice guy, but he's only in the club cuz he was Dana's friend. He was a UFC advertiser for christ's sakes.

Chuck deserves it.

meh-kell- July 7, 2009 at 8:19 am

i disagree with Justin. IMO Justin is a dork and has not contributed anything significant to the sport of MMA. on the other hand, helio and mask, greatly helped establish MMA as it is today - icons. Justin's just some fat kid - hercules! hercules!

Justin- July 7, 2009 at 8:15 am

IMO....Mask shouldn't be in. Helio shouldn't even be thought of. Evan Tanner should be considered.

We keep adding people that don't even fight and we might as well have a cagepotato contest to see which one of us gets in the hall of fame. Justin for the UFC Hall of Fame 2010!!!

Dojima- July 7, 2009 at 8:11 am

how about a Cagepotato contest to give away some of those soon-to-be obsolete t-shirts??? hmm??

meh-kell- July 7, 2009 at 8:04 am

yah, i agree - dana is an idiot. more and more dana reveals how self-absorbed he truly is. chuck's induction into the hof is obviously forthcoming but - now? *spits* hardly. maybe in a few years, unless of course dana wants to keep licking your balls so that you don't compete in another organization.

helio and mask. they should both be in the hof as mma cultural icons. i agree, tanner doesn't deserve the hof but i think does deserve a memorial.

frank shamrock is undefeated in the ufc. frank shamrock was an undefeated ufc champion. frank shamrock should be in the ufc hof. but, no. frank doesn't care for dana licking balls so frank'll never be in the ufc hof. and yah, i agree, dana is a goof.

my sincere wish is that all the ufc fighters form their own organization and shut dana the eff up. dana did a good job promoting the fighters to the world but i'm a fan because of the athlete's involved and feel bad that they have to deal with a turd like dana.

ArmFarmer- July 7, 2009 at 8:03 am

I'm not disrespecting him I respect the hell out of Evan Tanner.. I'm just stating my opinion about his hof status. Like I said I'm a Tanner fan I just don't think he did enough to get him in the hof. If they just start throwing everyone in there it will become meaningless. On the other hand, I never said I would be upset if they did induct him, it wouldn't really bother me. I just get tired of the people who act like it's an outrage that he's not in it. I just think it should be pointed out that he won a vacant belt from a nonchampion and then immediately lost it. That is definitely relevant to whether or not he should be inducted imo. For the record, I don't think Mask should be in it either but I don't think it's a big deal.

agentsmith- July 7, 2009 at 7:47 am

Mask "did it not with a ruthless business sense, but with an infectious enthusiasm and an attitude that could light up a room." So pretty much the opposite of how Dana White operates.

clutchy hopkins- July 7, 2009 at 7:38 am

why does anyone fucking argue about this shit? for all anyone on here knows, Evan Tanner could of been a close friend of many people in the UFC. and did alot for them. i can't speak for anyone in the UFC in particular but when someone close to you gets their life cut short by 30 years, its devastating. We should be paying homage to those who played a big part in the UFC and died while they would have still had more fights in the UFC. Obviously you can't hall of fame everyone who dies that was in the UFC, but c'mon is it anything to argue about if he did get in the hall of fame? I would be happy for him and anyone he was close to if he got in, definitely wouldnt be discussing his worthiness on a fucking website. A good man died, have some fucking respect

agentsmith- July 7, 2009 at 7:31 am

I don't see how Helio Gracie deserves HOF status, since he never fought in the UFC or even MMA as we know it at all. Then again, Mask wasn't even a fighter, so whatever.

ArmFarmer- July 7, 2009 at 7:04 am

@ sheps

I'm not the one that inducted Mask into the hall of fame so don't ask me. Also if you'll notice right after I said that I pointed out the irony of it. Bottom line though, I didn't put Mask in the hall of fame nor did I say I support him being in it so Mask's situation is not relevant to my logic. Also.. I wouldn't call Baroni or Lawler the best in the game.. and Sinisoc and the word best should never be in the same sentence.

@ mayhem

How is the fact that he never beat a champ (and that's champ not recognized champ, he never beat a ufc belt holder), or that he never defended a ufc title, irrelevant to the debate as to whether he should be in the hall of fame? I do see some of your points though, that is a different point of view, but at the same time I think for someone to be hall of fame worthy they should have been a legit champion at one time and probably should have had a somewhat dominant run. Otherwise how could you induct him but leave out all the guys that have actually held legitimate titles? And I don't think beating Robbie Lawler or Phil Baroni makes you hof worthy either. They are good, but they have lost a number of fights to non-champs. To me hall of fame is for the best of the best, not guys that were pretty good, very likeable, and died.

I do see your point about how long he was with the ufc and how many fights he had with them and that he may be considered one of the pioneers of the sport. If you are looking at it that way then yeah I guess you could make that argument.

MaxTheLimit- July 7, 2009 at 6:53 am

I hate Hughes, but he'll be HOF in the next few years (god knows he is getting less and less relevant in the welterweight class these days).
Adding chuck is a bit rushed, but I agree that being UFC 100, they wanted to add some ceremony to the event.

Fight Fan- July 7, 2009 at 6:48 am

The HOF should be for fighters only. Most other sports reserve the Hall for players, not sponsor/exec types.

mayhem- July 7, 2009 at 6:47 am

@ArmFarmer
I can see why people would say Evan Tanner should be in and why others say he wouldnt, but to put it on the fact that he never beat a recognized champ for the title or defended it would be just dumb. Tanner has the most wins in the UFC and fights. I think the only other guys who can say that are Chuck and Tito. He was a UFC guy almost all of his fighting career. He did alot for the UFC, now is what he did HOF worthy? Thats a matter of debat. Just dont base it on his belt status.
I am fine with Chuck and Mask getting in. Both did ALLOT for the UFC and both were big reasons for its success over the years.

I think its a mistake to induct these guys while they're still visable never mind still fighting. The UFC is missing out on some big paydays via PPV buys by not pulling these guys out of obscurity when its time to let a couple of new guys in. Remember when Ken Shamrock was inducted? Mark Coleman? It was a rush to see these guys back in the octogon. Its just too soon to feel anything for Chuck. Its hard to argue with Mask though.

I just want a "nostalgia pop" and if your not gonna give us that at your HOF induction when will we get it? Watching Mark Coleman get picked apart by Stephan Bonner? Sad and fun are 2 different things.

Tanner beat some of the best in the game during his time in the UFC, Baroni, Lawler, Sinosic to name a few.

Either way Dana did this to give Chuck something to do seeing as he won't be fighting anymore, give him a break from partying hard....topless.

ArmFarmer- July 7, 2009 at 6:10 am

Before people start harping about Evan Tanner please realize that Tanner never defeated a ufc champion and never successfully defended a ufc title. Unless you think being a cool guy and dieing qualifies you for the hof (yes I do see the irony), he shouldn't be a candidate. I am a Tanner fan myself but I do not think he belongs in the hof and I know that argument is coming.